Jesus shared many powerful parables during His ministry, and one of the most impactful is the Parable of the Good Samaritan. This story comes after Jesus sent out 72 followers two by two, reminding them of the authority they carried as believers. It's important to remember that we too carry this same authority wherever we go - at work, on the freeway, or in our homes. When we declare "in the mighty name of Jesus" like we sang this week, we're standing in confidence that God is on the move.

In Luke 10:25-37, we find an expert in the law testing Jesus by asking, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus responds by asking what is written in the law. The expert answers correctly: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself."

But then, wanting to justify himself, the expert asks, "And who is my neighbor?" This question prompts Jesus to share the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Jesus tells the story of a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho who is attacked by robbers, stripped, beaten, and left half-dead. A priest comes along but passes by on the other side. A Levite does the same. But a Samaritan - someone despised by Jews - stops, bandages the man's wounds, takes him to an inn, and pays for his care.

Jesus then asks which of these three was a neighbor to the injured man. The expert replies, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus concludes, "Go and do likewise."

Jesus purposely chose a Samaritan as the hero of this story to provoke His listeners. Samaritans were considered inferior by Jews and the two groups despised each other. By making the Samaritan the compassionate character, Jesus shattered cultural prejudices and expanded the definition of "neighbor" beyond ethnic, religious, and social boundaries.

The priest and Levite in the story had just come from worshiping at the temple in Jerusalem, yet they failed to show compassion. Meanwhile, the despised outsider demonstrated true godliness through his actions.

We live in an increasingly divided world where people cluster with those who are like them and shun those who are different. These divisions run along political, racial, and socioeconomic lines. Jesus calls us to rise above these divisions and be salt and light in the world.

As salt, we are preserving agents in a decaying culture. As light, we illuminate darkness. We carry a message of life - the gospel of Jesus Christ - that transcends human divisions.

The parable reveals three distinct attitudes:

• The robbers: "What's yours is mine, and I'm going to take it."
• The priest and Levite: "What's mine is mine, and I'm going to keep it."
• The Good Samaritan: "What's mine is yours, and I'm going to share it."

Only the third attitude reflects the heart of Jesus and the kingdom of God.

Jesus expended relatively little energy on mass events. Even when feeding thousands, the story often focuses on an individual - like the boy with loaves and fish. Jesus consistently focused on the one person in front of Him:

• Zacchaeus in the tree
• The woman with the issue of blood
• The thief on the cross

When we fail to focus on individuals, key elements of life fall apart. This is true in marriage, with our children, and in friendships.

Chuck Colson observed that when communists took over Russia in 1917, they didn't make Christianity illegal. Instead, they made it illegal for the church to do good works - feeding the hungry, educating children, housing orphans, or caring for the sick. After 70 years, the church had become largely irrelevant to its communities.

The power of the Gospel is found in combining the life-changing message of Jesus with the selfless service of His followers. Take away service, and you take away the church's power, influence, and evangelistic effectiveness.

The parable of the Good Samaritan challenges us to move beyond good intentions to concrete actions. Jesus' clear goal is to connect a living God with living people and to call His followers to action over merely being stirred in mind or heart.

Here are some ways to apply this teaching:

• Look for the "one" God is highlighting to you - someone who needs encouragement or support.
• Serve in your local church, which should be a "headquarters of hope."
• Be effective in loving your family, friends, coworkers, and roommates.
• Don't wait for someone else to meet needs - step forward and be like the Good Samaritan.
• Use your specific gifts to serve others, whether in worship, hospitality, or behind-the-scenes support.

Ask yourself:

• Who is my "neighbor" that I've been passing by?
• What prejudices might be preventing me from showing mercy?
• In what specific way can I "go and do likewise" this week?
• Am I waiting for the "right time" to serve, or am I willing to be interrupted like the Samaritan was?

Remember, Jesus doesn't just want us to have wonderful convictions or religious attendance - He wants us to step forward and model His heart by serving others with compassion and generosity.